JPH11203081A - Output device and host device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent restriction management contents from being varied for every output device even if the plural output devices exist on a network. SOLUTION: An image forming means 13 forming an image corresponding to a request from an outer device on the network 30, a frequency management table 24 for storing a frequency that the image is formed as frequency information for every request origin, a frequency information exchange means 25 transferring frequency with the other output device on the network 30 and a frequency management means 26 updating frequency information in the frequency management table 24 whenever the image forming means 13 forms the image and the frequency information exchange means 25 receives frequency information and transmitting updated frequency information to the other output device are provided of the output device.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an output device for forming and outputting an image, and more particularly to an output device used on a network in which a plurality of devices are connected to each other. The present invention also relates to a host device used on a network to which a plurality of output devices are connected.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the spread of LAN (local area network) and the like, output devices used on a network, such as a network printer, have been widely used. As a technique relating to such an output device, for example, there is a printer disclosed in JP-A-6-324821. In the printer disclosed in this document, when a plurality of terminal devices are connected on a network, and each terminal device issues an image forming processing request by at least one user together with the priority of the processing request, etc. In addition, by setting a charging limit value and a usage limit number of each priority for each user, the processing request at a high priority is limited, and a specific user is prevented from always making a processing request of a high priority, It allows each user to use it fairly.

[0003]

However, in the above-described conventional printer, the restriction on the processing request is recorded and managed for each printer. Therefore, when a plurality of printers are connected on a network, Causes the following problems.

For example, when a processing request from a certain user reaches a set limit in one printer on a network, the printer will thereafter
All the processing requests from the certain user are accepted with the lowest priority. At this time, if another printer on the network does not restrict the certain user, the certain user can obtain a result of image formation earlier by giving a processing request to the other printer with high priority. Will be done.

That is, in the above-described conventional printer, when a plurality of printers exist on a network, each printer independently manages a restriction on a processing request.
Variations occur in the content of the restriction management for each printer, and as a result, it is very difficult to perform efficient image formation as a whole system. It is also conceivable that a user who issues a processing request grasps the status of each printer and issues processing requests uniformly in order to prevent the occurrence of variation in the content of restriction management for each printer.
In this case, a great burden is imposed on the user to grasp the status of each printer, and as a result, it becomes very inconvenient for the user.

Accordingly, the present invention prevents variations in the contents of restriction management for each output device even when a plurality of output devices exist on a network, and enables efficient image formation. It is another object of the present invention to provide an output device and a host device which are convenient for the user.

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided an output device devised to achieve the above object, wherein the output device is used on a network in which a plurality of output devices are connected to each other. An image forming unit that forms an image in response to a processing request from an external device connected to the device, a frequency management table that stores the frequency at which the image forming unit has performed image formation as frequency information for each request source of the processing request, ,
A frequency management unit that updates frequency information in the frequency management table when the image forming unit performs image formation, and transmits the frequency information updated by the frequency management unit to another output device on the network, and A frequency information exchange unit that receives the frequency information from the other output device when the frequency information is transmitted, and the frequency management unit includes a frequency information in the frequency management table when the frequency information exchange unit receives the frequency information. It is characterized by updating information.

According to the output device having the above-described configuration, when the image forming means forms an image, the frequency management means updates frequency information in the frequency management table, and the updated frequency information is transmitted to the network by the frequency information exchange means. Send to other output devices above. On the other hand, when frequency information is transmitted from another output device on the network, the frequency information exchange unit receives the frequency information, and the frequency management unit updates the frequency information in the frequency management table based on the received frequency information. . Therefore,
If this output device is used, even if a plurality of output devices exist on the network, if the frequency information is updated in any one of the output devices, the frequency information is updated in the other output devices. Therefore, the frequency information stored in the frequency management table of each output device is the same, and there is no variation in the storage contents in the frequency management table for each output device.

According to the present invention, there is provided a host device devised to achieve the above object, wherein the host device is used on a network to which a plurality of output devices for forming an image are connected. When there is an image forming process request to the plurality of output devices, the process control means causes the process request to be executed by any of the plurality of output devices. A frequency management table that stores frequency information for each request source; and a frequency management unit that updates frequency information in the frequency management table when the processing control unit causes any of the plurality of output devices to execute a processing request. It is characterized by having.

According to the host device having the above configuration, when an image forming process request is issued to the output device, the process control means causes any output device on the network to execute the process request. Then, when the processing control means executes the processing request, the frequency management means updates the frequency information relating to the request source of the processing request, that is, the corresponding frequency information in the frequency management table. Therefore, if this host device is used, even if a plurality of output devices exist on the network, the frequency information of each output device is stored in the frequency management table for each request source of the processing request, and the stored content is stored in the frequency management table. Since it is updated by the management means, it is not necessary for each output device to individually manage frequency information. That is, unlike the case where each output device manages the frequency information individually, the frequency information does not vary from one output device to another.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An output device and a host device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment] In this embodiment,
An output device according to the present invention will be described. However, here, a case where the present invention is applied to a printer that performs a printing process on a network will be described as an example.

The printer according to the present embodiment is configured as shown in FIG. 1, and is used in a network system as shown in FIG. Here, a network system using the printer of the present embodiment will be described.

As shown in FIG. 2, the network system includes a plurality of host computers 1a, 1b, 1c,
1d and a plurality of printers 10a, 10b, 10c.
And a network (communication line) connecting them to each other
30.

Host computers 1a, 1b, 1c, 1
d ... are each composed of a personal computer or the like, and each of the printers 10a, 1a is operated in accordance with the operation of at least one registered (permitted to use) user.
.. 0b, 10c... Are issued. That is, each of the host computers 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d... Functions as an external device in the present invention.

Each of the host computers 1a, 1b,
Jobs issued by 1c, 1d... Include print data serving as a basis of print processing, information on the priority of the print processing,
It is assumed that information (for example, a user ID) for specifying a user who is a requester of the printing process is included.

On the other hand, printers 10a, 10b, 10c ...
Are each configured as shown in FIG. 1 (a). That is, an external interface (hereinafter, I / O) for communicating with other devices on the network 30
/ F), a control unit 11, an image memory 12 for temporarily storing print data to be output, and an image forming unit 13 for forming an image from the print data and printing it as a visible image on paper. An image forming control unit 14 for controlling a printing process in the image forming unit 13, a control panel 15 for a user to operate, and a control panel control unit 16 for controlling the control panel 15.
And a main controller 20 for controlling the entire printer.
And a bus 17 for connecting these components to each other.

Further, among these units, the main control unit 2
0 is C as a main control unit as shown in FIG.
PU (Central Processing Unit) 21, ROM (Read O
nlyMemory) 22 and RAM (Random Access Memor)
y) In addition to 23, a printing frequency management table 24, frequency information exchange means 25, and printing frequency management means 26 are provided.

The print frequency management table 24 is formed using a memory such as a RAM. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the "print frequency" and "print limit" are stored in the Is stored for each user registered in advance as information on the number of times that has been performed.

The print frequency is a frequency indicating the cumulative result of how many print requests each user has made, and is updated each time the execution of a job is completed. Note that the printing frequency is uniquely determined in the network system. Specifically, the number of printed sheets can be used as it is, or the size of the paper or the added value of the job content (color output request). Or the like, or the priority of the job, or the like. The printing limit represents a printing frequency allowed for each user, and is a value set in advance for each user.

In FIG. 1B, the frequency information exchange means 25 is realized by execution of a predetermined program by the CPU.
0a, 10b, 10c,...
For transmitting and receiving the print frequency via the. That is, the frequency information exchange unit 25 notifies another printer that the print frequency should be updated or receives a notification from another printer that the print frequency should be updated.

The print frequency management means 26 is realized by executing a predetermined program in the CPU similarly to the frequency information exchange means 25, and manages the contents stored in the print frequency management table 24. Specifically, the print frequency management unit 26 clears the print frequency in the print frequency management table 24 and sets a print limit. Further, in response to the job for which printing by the image forming unit 13 has been completed, the printing frequency of the user who issued the job is updated, and frequency information exchange is performed so as to notify another printer that the printing frequency should be updated. Instruct the means 25. Further, the printing frequency in the printing frequency management table 24 is updated based on the information received from the other printer by the frequency information exchange unit 25.

Further, the printing frequency management means 26 performs job limit management as one of the managements of the printing frequency management table 24. For example, the printing frequency management unit 26
Checks if the print frequency of the user exceeds the print limit when a job is issued by a user,
Based on the result, the limit management for the issued job is performed. Specifically, when the printing frequency exceeds the printing limit, the priority of the job is received with the lowest priority regardless of the specified contents.

Next, the printer 1 configured as described above
A description will be given of an example of a processing operation in the case where print processing is performed in 0a, 10b, 10c,... With reference to the flowchart of FIG. However, here, for simplicity of description, a description will be given of a printing process performed by a certain printer 10a as an example.

In performing the printing process, the printer 10a first checks whether or not the frequency information exchange means 25 has received information on the print frequency from the other printers 10b, 10c,. Is abbreviated as S). Here, if the frequency information exchange means 25 has received the information on the print frequency, the print frequency management means 2
No. 6 updates the printing frequency in the printing frequency management table 24 based on the received information (S102). Specifically, the printing frequency for the user specified by the received information is added by the frequency specified by the received information. Then, after the update, it is confirmed again whether or not information regarding the printing frequency has been received (S101).

If no information on the printing frequency is received,
The print frequency management unit 26 checks whether there is a job to be processed (S103), and if there is no job, repeats the above steps (S101 to S103). on the other hand,
If there is a job to be processed, the print frequency management means 2
No. 6 checks the information on the print frequency of the user who issued the job (S104). This check may be performed based on the user ID and the like included in the job and the contents of the print frequency management table 24.

As a result of this check, if the printing frequency for the user exceeds the printing limit, the printing frequency management means 26 assigns the lowest priority to the job irrespective of the priority information included in the job. Is set. However, if the printing frequency does not exceed the printing limit, the priority information included in the job is left as it is. Then, the main control unit 20, the image forming control unit 14, and the image forming unit 13 perform a printing process instructed by the job according to the priority of the job (S105). Then, the printing process is continued until all the printing processes by the job are completed (S106).

Thereafter, when the printing process by one job is completed, at that time, the printing frequency management means 26 updates the printing frequency in the printing frequency management table 24 (S10).
7). Specifically, according to the notification from the image forming control unit 14 that the printing process has been completed, the printing frequency management unit 26
The print frequency to be added upon completion of the job is calculated based on the number of printed sheets and the like, and the calculation result is added to the print frequency in the print frequency management table 24.

At the same time, the printing frequency management means 26
The frequency information exchange means 2 notifies the other printers 10b, 10c,... Of the calculated frequency and the user ID to which the frequency is to be added as information on the frequency.
Instruct 5. Thereby, the frequency information exchange means 25
The other printers 10b, 10c ... are notified that the print frequency should be updated via the external I / F control unit 11 (S10).
8). Then, in order to perform a printing process for a new job, the process returns to the step (S101) for confirming again whether or not information regarding the printing frequency has been received.

By performing such a processing operation, in the printer 10a, the contents of the print frequency management table 24 can be made the same as the contents of the other printers 10b, 10c... On the network 30. Therefore, even if a plurality of printers 10a, 10b, 10c,... Exist on the network 30, if any one of the printers 10A, 10B, 10C,...
Therefore, the print frequency management tables 24 of the printers 10a, 10b, 10c... Are all the same in the print frequency management table 24, and the storage contents in the print frequency management tables 24 of the printers 10a, 10b, 10c. No more.

As described above, the printer 1 according to the present embodiment
0a, 10b, 10c...
There is no variation in the storage contents in the print frequency management table 24 for b, 10c,. That is,
A plurality of printers 10a, 10b,
10c exist, each printer 10a, 10c
b, 10c... does not cause a variation in the contents of the restriction management.

Therefore, these printers 10a, 1
If the network system is composed of 0b, 10c ...
The printing instruction limit is reduced to one, and each user can efficiently use each of the printers 10a, 10b, 10c,..., And as a result, efficient image formation can be easily realized as a whole system. Specifically, the applicability of the restriction is determined by each printer 10a, 10b, 10
.. will not be dependent on the usage status for any printer 10a, 10b, 10c,... Issuing a job eliminates the possibility of obtaining an image forming result earlier.

The printers 10a, 10b, 10c ...
Communication between the printers 10a, 10b,
10c... Is prevented from occurring, so that the user can use the printers 10a, 10b, 10c.
It is not necessary to grasp the situation and issue jobs uniformly, and there is no need to impose a great burden as in the related art. In other words, the user does not need to be aware of his / her own usage status for each of the printers 10a, 10b, 10c,... On the network 30, and the intended functions (when specific functions are desired) and the operation of the printers 10a, 10b, 10c,. Since a job can be issued based on the situation (when it is desired to print quickly), it becomes much more convenient for the user than before.

In the example of the processing operation described above, the case where the print frequency management means 26 uniformly calculates the print frequency for each user has been described. However, weighting is performed for each print frequency. Is also good.

Here, as an example of calculating the printing frequency by performing such weighting, a case in which weighting by grouping is added will be described as an example. Here, for example, user A and user B belong to user group UGR1, and user C and user D belong to user group UGR2.
It is assumed that the users who are registered in advance are classified into groups such that the user belongs to the group, and the additional degree of the printing frequency for each printer is assigned to each user group. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, it is assumed that the additional degree of the print frequency for each of the printers a, b, and c is set to be different for each of the user groups UGR1 and UGR2.

In this setting example, when a user of the user group UGR1 performs printing on a certain printer a, the addition is performed by an amount corresponding to the normally calculated printing frequency, but a user of the user group UGR2 performs printing. In this case, the printing frequency is added twice as much as the normally calculated printing frequency. That is, in this setting example, it is assumed that the ownership (management responsibility) of a certain printer a belongs to the user group UGR1 and another printer c belongs to the user group UGR2, and that the printer b is shared by all users. All users can use it fairly.

As described above, the print frequency is weighted, and the frequency management is performed in consideration of the printer possession of each of the user groups UGR1 and UGR2, so that the fairness of each user group regarding the use of each printer on the network is maintained. You can do things like that. In other words, by introducing the idea of grouping users and printers, it is possible to perform more sophisticated restriction management, and even in this case, as described above, efficient image formation can be achieved as a whole system. Convenience for the user can be realized.

[Second Embodiment] Next, a host device according to the present invention will be described. However, here, a case where the present invention is applied to a printer server that manages a plurality of printers on a network will be described as an example. In the present embodiment, the same components as those in the above-described first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

The printer server according to the present embodiment is used in a network system as shown in FIG. This network system has a printer server 40 connected to a network 30 in addition to the case of the first embodiment.

The printer server 40 is composed of a personal computer or the like, and manages each of the printers 10a, 10b, 10c... That is, in the printer server 40, the host computers 1a, 1b, 1c, 1 on the network 30
When a job is issued from printer d to printers 10a, 10b, 10c, etc., once the job is received, it is sent to one of printers 10a, 10b, 10c on network 30 as described in detail later. It is made to run.

Printer server 4 having such a function
0 is an external I / F control unit 41 for performing communication with another device on the network 30 as shown in FIG.
And a main storage 43 for controlling the printer server 40 as a whole. Further, the main control unit 43
Is a CP serving as a main control unit, as shown in FIG.
In addition to the U44, the ROM 45 and the RAM 46, a processing control unit 47, a printing frequency management table 24, and a printing frequency management unit 26 are provided.

The processing control means 47 is realized by executing a predetermined program by the CPU. When a job is received from the host computer 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, etc., the printer 10a, 10b, 10c
.. Are executed. This determination is made as follows. Printers 10a, 10b, 1 that should execute the job in the received job
0c... Are not specified based on the target function of the job, the operating status of each of the printers 10a, 10b, 10c.
It is determined which printer 10a, 10b, 10c... Executes the job. Also, the printer 1 to be executed
. 0a, 10b, 10c... Are designated, the printers 10a, 10a,
10b, 10c ... are determined.

The printing frequency management table 24 and the printing frequency management means 26 are the same as those in the first embodiment. However, in the present embodiment, the processing control means 47
The printing frequency management means 26 updates the printing frequency in the printing frequency management table 24 according to the result of the determination.

Next, an example of the processing operation in the printer server 40 configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In the printer server 40, first, the processing control means 47 checks whether or not a job has been issued from the host computers 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d... On the network 30 (S201). Here, if there is a job,
The processing control means 47 receives the job and determines which of the printers 10a, 10b, 10c,... To execute the job (S202). At this time, the print frequency management unit 26 checks the print frequency and print limit of the user who issued the job (S203), and notifies the processing control unit 47 of the check result as necessary.

Printers 10a and 10 for executing jobs
b, 10c..., the processing control unit 47 sends the job to one of the printers 10a, 1
0b, 10c... (S204), and continues until the transfer of the job is completed (S205).

When the transfer of one job is completed, the printing frequency management means 26 updates the printing frequency in the printing frequency management table 24 at that time (S206).
Specifically, the print frequency management unit 26 responds to the notification from the external I / F control unit 41 that the transfer of the job has been completed,
The print frequency to be added is calculated when the transfer of the job is completed, and the calculation result is added to the print frequency in the print frequency management table 24. Then, in order to perform a printing process for a new job, the process returns to the step (S201) for confirming whether or not a job has been issued.

By performing such processing operations, in the printer server 40, the print frequency management table 24 stores the printers 10a, 10b, 10c.
Will be stored. That is,
A plurality of printers 10a, 10b,
.. Exist, the contents of the print frequency management table 24 for centrally managing the print frequencies are updated when any of the print frequencies is updated. Therefore, there is no variation in the print frequency of each of the printers 10a, 10b, 10c,.

As described above, in the printer server 40 of the present embodiment, since the printing frequency for each of the printers 10a, 10b, 10c.
a, 10b, 10c... does not cause a variation in the contents of the restriction management. Therefore, if a network system is configured using the printer server 40,
As in the case of the first embodiment, efficient image formation can be easily performed as a whole system, and it is much more convenient for the user than before.

[0050]

As described above, in the output device and the host device according to the present invention, even when a plurality of output devices exist on the network, there is a variation in the content of the restriction management for each output device. It is designed to prevent that. Therefore, if the output device or the host device of the present invention is used, a job is issued to any output device by the user, and the same processing is performed, so that efficient image formation can be easily performed as a whole system. Can be realized. Also, since the user does not need to grasp the status of each output device and issue jobs uniformly, there is no need to impose a great burden on the user as in the conventional case, and as a result, the user is much more than before. It will be useful.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an example of an embodiment of an output device according to the present invention, wherein (a) is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the entire output device, and (b) is a main control in the output device. It is a figure which shows the schematic structure of a part.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an example of a network system using the output device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific example of information on a printing frequency.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing operation when printing processing is performed by the output device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific example in a case where weighting by grouping is added to the printing frequency.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an example of a network system in which a host device according to the present invention is used.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are block diagrams showing a schematic configuration of an example of an embodiment of a host device according to the present invention, wherein FIG. 7A is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the entire host device, and FIG. It is a figure which shows the schematic structure of a part.

8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing operation in the host device of FIG. 7;

[Explanation of symbols]

1a, 1b, 1c, 1d: Host computer (external device), 10a, 10b, 10c: Printer (output device), 13: Image forming unit, 14: Image forming control unit, 20
... Main control unit, 24 ... Print frequency management table, 25 ... Frequency information exchange unit, 26 ... Print frequency management unit, 30 ... Network (communication line), 40 ... Printer server (host device), 42 ... Main control unit, 46 ... Process control means

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An output device used on a network in which a plurality of output devices are connected to each other, comprising: an image forming unit configured to form an image in response to a processing request from an external device connected to the network; A frequency management table that stores the frequency at which the image forming unit forms an image as frequency information for each request source of the processing request, and updates the frequency information in the frequency management table when the image forming unit performs image formation. Frequency management means, and frequency information exchange means for transmitting frequency information updated by the frequency management means to another output device on the network, and receiving frequency information transmitted from the other output device when received. The frequency management means updates frequency information in the frequency management table when the frequency information exchange means receives frequency information. Output and wherein the. 2. A host device used on a network to which a plurality of output devices for performing image formation are connected, wherein when there is a processing request for image formation to the output device, the processing request is transmitted to the plurality of output devices. A processing control unit to be executed by any one of: a frequency management table that stores the frequency at which each of the plurality of output devices has performed image formation as frequency information for each request source of the processing request; and the processing control unit. And a frequency management unit that updates corresponding frequency information in the frequency management table when any of the plurality of output devices executes a processing request.